Fathima Rifqa Bary: Orlando pastors that let Fathima Rifqa Bary into their home 'reorganizing' church

Global Revolution Church

Global Revolution Church

Amy L. EdwardsSentinel Staff Writer

The pastors who made national headlines after taking in a teen Muslim-to-Christian convert from Ohio are reorganizing their Orlando church.

What that means isn't clear, though pastor Blake Lorenz is upbeat.

"The lawyers are trying to figure out which way it's going to go," he said. "It's not like a negative thing. We're having to reorganize and restructure." He wouldn't say why.

Pastors Beverly and Blake Lorenz took in teen convert Fathima Rifqa Bary after she ran away from her parents, saying her life was in danger because she converted -- a claim her family denies.

The Lorenzes helped start Global Revolution Church in October after spending more than 15 years at Pine Castle United Methodist Church, located south of downtown Orlando on Orange Avenue. Global Revolution has been meeting in a theater inside the Cinemark at Festival Bay.

Blake Lorenz said his church will get a different name and a new meeting spot but it will still have the same congregation. He would not say what prompted the change.

"The church is still going great," he said. "We're still pastoring. We're doing great. It's really good."

Attempts to reach the church's corporate officers have been unsuccessful.

"I hesitate to say anything," Lorenz said during the phone interview this morning.